Link Between Antipsychotic Drug and Diabetes

People using the antipsychotic medication olanzapine face a greater chance of developing heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

French researchers found that male rats given olanzapine over several weeks developed higher blood sugar levels compared to rats not given the drug.

The olanzapine-ingesting rats did not gain weight or raise their food intake, but the proportion of fat stored in their abdominal cavity was significantly higher. The changes in blood glucose level and storage of fat may put people at greater risk of heart disease and type 2 diabetes.

Olanzapine is an atypical antipsychotic drug used to treat schizophrenia. Medications like olanzapine are valuable in treating people with certain kinds of mental illness. The researchers hope that additional research will allow such life-enhancing medicines to be further optimized.

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